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Fatima is still at heart of Catholics – and of our Archbishop.

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The 100th Year Anniversary of Fatima

Just because priests rarely mention it, and don’t proclaim its messages – about Hell, the Rosary, Consecration of Russia, war and peace, chastisement, … doesn’t mean that it is not at the heart of many, many Catholics.

It was a great affair. The world over there were celebrations, processions, rosaries. It just shows you how Catholics love their Blessed Mother.

In our own little corner of the world, there is one of the pilgrim statues doing the rounds of parishes – attracting hundreds of people in prayer and petition, wherever it is. There are special Masses, little local processions – around the block, or simply around the Church, all night prayer vigils.

We have a Marian shrine about 2 hours drive from the outskirts of the city. It is run by the Polish Pauline Fathers and attracts 100’s of people on the 13th of each month, and has done so for decades. Yesterday , it was packed with buses – over 70. It was said there were about 10,000 people. I don’t know if that’s correct but it is unlikely to be reported in any secular newspapers.

Archbishop Anthony Fisher

Our dear good Archbishop has fought many battles. He is the youngest bishop here “down under”.

Just before Christmas of 2015 Archbishop Fisher was struck down with “Guillain-Barre Syndrome” which left him paralyzed all over. It took over 6 months to get over the worst of it, but it was said that it could take another 2 years to fully recover.

The whole diocese is still praying for him, but he has done amazing things in “fighting the good fight”.

In March, he presided 0ver the Eucharistic Procession through the streets of Sydney and Benediction at the Cathedral for the Feast of the Annunciation – “Day of the Unborn”.

In an interview by Crux on 14th July, 2016, he told the interviewer when asked about the renewed push for same-sex marriage “I take the view, which I think is the Catholic view of history, that nothing is inevitable until it actually happens. There are no inevitable tides of history that mean because this country or that country has gone a particular way with same-sex marriage or any other social trend, that we have to do so in Australia.”

I remember in mid 2015 when yet another private members’ bill was introduced into Parliament. Bp. Anthony Fisher, as well as ACL (Australian Christian Lobby and other groups , had their fighting gloves on. The Archbishop did public talks (for all, not just Catholics), wrote to businesses etc. He sent a booklet on Marriage to all parishes, and Catholic schools outlining the arguments and Catholic situation.We won that fight – at least for the moment. It didn’t get passed, but that doesn’t mean this question will not reappear in the future.

Abp. Anthony Fisher Consecrates Sydney to Our Lady of Fatima

Considering the crisis the church, and considering that in Sydney each year we have a gay Mardi Gras parade, which has the support of the local government officials, and of course all of the secular media – TV, newspapers, radio announcers… It’s right in your face.

And every year, we have little prayer vigils, and every year we hope that there is a huge summer thunderstorm and or hailstorm, that will pour down suddenly right in the middle of it all (as happens here) and wash them all away, but it never happens. It’s not God’s way.

But yesterday, on the 13th May, 2017 – on the 100th anniversary of the first Fatima apparition, our wonderful Archbishop consecrated Sydney and its people to Our Lady of Fatima. Now we know that there are many parishes with modernist pastors, but there are also many who are faithful to the Truth. Our Archbishop had a lot of courage. Notice the last paragraph in the prayer that he said (below) – a veiled reference to the issues in the Dubia?

In his sermon he mentioned the wonderful fact that the very next day – Sunday 14th May – was Mother’s Day. What a wonderful gift to our heavenly Mother!

“O Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of heaven and earth, and tender Mother of humanity, in accordance with your ardent wish made known at Fatima, I consecrate to you myself, my brothers and sisters of the Archdiocese of Sydney, and the whole human race.

We commit to you all the members of this local Church, beginning with the weakest ones, from the unborn to the sick, the disabled and the elderly. We commit to you our families, our children, our young people, the single, the widowed and the lonely. We entrust to your Immaculate Heart especially hurt and broken families, for those who seek the meaning of life but who are getting lost in a world of confusion, immoral influences, and distorted ideas.

Reign over us and teach us how to make the Heart of Jesus reign and triumph in us and around us, as it has reigned and triumphed in you!

Reign over us, dearest Mother, that we may be your children in prosperity and in adversity, in joy and in sorrow, in health and sickness, in life and in death!

O most compassionate Heart of Mary, Queen of Virgins, watch over our minds and hearts, and preserve them from the deluge of impurity which you lamented so sorrowfully at Fatima. We want to be pure like you. We want to atone for the many crimes committed against Jesus and you. We want to call down upon our city, our country and the whole world the peace of God in justice and charity!

Help us as we resolve to live according to the Gospel, to fulfil the Commandments of God and those of the Church,to receive the sacraments worthily, especially the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist,and to contribute to the building up of the Kingdom of your divine Son, in union with his most Sacred Heart.”

Thank you Jesus (through our dearest Mother, Mary) for guiding our Bishops and for all the blessings they receive for us. Help us to help you, fight the fight against evil, until Our lady’s Immaculate Heart will triumph.